Plucky parrot Lulu is back home after a week on the run

Louise Walsh
A devastated Meath pet-owner who had given up hope of ever seeing his missing parrot again - has been reunited with the plucky bird against the odds.
Ray Fitzsimons spent up to 20-hours each day searching for his beloved Lulu - an African Grey Parrot who flew out of his home on the Cherry Hill Road in Kells on Tuesday 26th June at 5pm
The loss was heartbreaking for Ray who has had Lulu since she was a baby, 15 years ago and a futile searches resulted in him losing hope of finding her by last Sunday - six days after she went missing.

“It was so hot on the Tuesday that the double doors of the house were opened to give her more air. She's not really caged in the house and her wings were clipped years ago, so it was the first time she has flown,” a delighted Ray said.
“She's fantastic and chats away a lot. We used to have a dog who passed away last year but she'd call him over to her, saying: “Come here Seb' and 'Good dog Seb”
“I raced home from work in Navan when I got the news that she fled the house. My boss was really good to let me take a few days off to search for her. I got up every morning at 4.30am to see if I could hear her whistling and searched all over until after midnight.

“I had been told that she would hide in a tree for a few days before searching for food but that she may not survive the intense heat.
“Family members started telling me searching for Lulu was beginning to take over my life so by the Sunday, I started to let go. I gave up hope and stopped searching about midday. I was gutted.”
However, a phone call that evening led to the remarkable reunion of Lulu and Ray not far from his own home.
“I was in a friend's house in Navan when I got a call from Navan gardai.
“A woman in Blackwater Heights in Kells heard noises in a tree, looked up and saw Lulu who dropped to the ground beside her. She didn't know what to do and was terrified Lulu would fly away before I arrived.

“I raced back home and found Lulu lapping up a bowl of water, she was that dehydrated. I walked over to her and she jumped on my shoulder, put her face down to mine and said 'Hello!'
“It was the most amazing moment ever. I was so delighted to get her back. She's fine now but there'll be no double doors opened again,” he laughed.